PFL_P7

LDR 6301, Psychological Foundations of Leadership 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

6. Examine characteristics leaders exhibit to achieve organizational objectives. 6.1 Examine team-building skills. 6.2 Relate the ability of a leader to communicate and resolve conflict to the psychological

foundations. Required Unit Resources Chapter 9: Developing Teamwork Chapter 12: Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills Unit Lesson

Introduction Welcome to Unit VII! As we rapidly progress toward the finish line, let’s pause and contemplate the wealth of knowledge that has been acquired thus far, as related to the psychological foundations of leadership. In this unit, we will explore key characteristics essential for leaders to conduct and execute critical functions. First, we will examine the acumen of skills necessary for a leader to effectively build high-performing teams. Second, we will further explore the key role of effective communication and characteristics needed for leader effectiveness. Third, we will investigate knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to conduct negotiation and resolve conflict. Finally, we will summarize, synthesize, and discuss how the psychological foundations of leadership examined throughout this course directly relate to the aforementioned characteristics.

Team Building What leadership characteristics are essential for building teams? DuBrin (2019) posits that leaders must be viewed through a lens of trustworthiness by followers. So, how does a leader demonstrate this critical characteristic? As we have all learned and observed from personal experience, teams evolve through specific stages. Let’s pause for a moment and reflect upon when we were a part of a team. Did you look to the leader to assess whether you could place your trust in the individual? From your personal observation, what did you evaluate? Teams assemble for a purpose and are driven to accomplish stated objectives. If a leader demonstrates and conveys conflicting information and views, this certainly can prove problematic on the journey to gain the trust of followers. Returning to our existing knowledge of the stages of team building, forming occurs first (Tuckman, 1965). Typically, this is where the leader assembles the followers to initiate conversion from a group to a team. Experience has shown that once trustworthiness is established, the self-identity of the team emerges (DuBrin, 2019). Consequently, the effective leader demonstrates the skill and ability to inspire and enables and empowers group members. These essential characteristics become the foundation for guiding the team through the next stage of building, storming (Tuckman, 1965).

UNIT VII STUDY GUIDE Psychological Challenges of Leadership

LDR 6301, Psychological Foundations of Leadership 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

(Adapted from Tuckman, 1965)

Characteristically, teams often assemble, and the effective leader is able to guide brainstorming that may lead to conflicting ideas. As a result, positive conflict emerges, resulting in establishing common ground, further leading to the third stage, norming (Tuckman, 1965). It is during this stage that the leader empowers followers to make decisions and to assume authority toward execution of steps realized through the planning process. Finally, the team is now positioned to perform (Tuckman, 1965). The final stage for team development is adjourning (Tuckman, 1965). Characteristics inherent with the effective leader in this stage relate to guiding members to anticipate and influence change, a critical characteristic that is requisite to achieving higher levels of performance. Next, let’s examine how communication and related characteristics are critical for leader success.

Communication Leaders can only influence and guide followers through highly effective communication skills. At first glance, the emphasis is placed on how the leader speaks and gains attention. DuBrin (2019) asserts that two key areas that are supported by the spoken word and effective communication rest upon the leader’s ability to demonstrate characteristics that lead to a climate of trust, which is supported by the cooperation theory. Again, calling on you to reflect on past experience, what key indicators did you look for in order to trust and cooperate with the initiative set forth by the leader? How would you rate and evaluate the importance of tone, eye contact, and body language, which are all critical evaluative measures? Let’s consider the other key function of leader communication, effective listening. Anecdotally, experience over the years leads to a sincere commitment to more actively listening to followers in organizations. Given the pressures of time and scope of assignments that teams face, there is often a shortfall of leader effort in this category. Returning to the stages of team building, effective listening through active inquiry is an essential characteristic for leaders to better understand followers and to build a guiding coalition. Next, we will explore conflict resolution and negotiation and required skills for leader efficacy.

Conflict Resolution Leadership faces the inevitability of emerging conflict. Earlier, we examined the storming phase, where the leader demonstrating effective listening promoted emerging conflict in order to identify solutions that will support the execution of the plan. Reflect upon a time when you were a part of a team where a conflict emerged. Did the leader demonstrate confidence—a critical characteristic in identifying disagreement—and actively listen to gain a better understanding? Moreover, did the leader seek to inspire and to recognize the value of contribution by each follower?

LDR 6301, Psychological Foundations of Leadership 3

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

Successful leaders are persuasive and demonstrate this characteristic by resolving conflict through win-win negotiation and serving the best interests of the team. Finally, integrity must be unilaterally observed and displayed by the leader in all dealings in order to demonstrate trust. Hence, effective leaders are communicative, not fearful of conflict, and committed to understanding differences, even through cross- cultural boundaries. Next, we will be assessing how each of the characteristics examined for team building, communication, and conflict resolution relate to the psychological foundations of leadership.

Summary We have examined a host of different characteristics essential for leader success in driving followers forward. First, the cognitive foundation of leadership necessitates demonstrated intelligence in order to assemble teams that are driven through effective communication. Second, the social foundation requires the effective leader to build relationships that are centered on trust and integrity in order to lead the team through challenging circumstances. Third, the organizational foundation necessitates performance by the leader to communicate, build teams, and resolve conflict to promote interrelationships that are supported by harmonious interaction. Finally, the industrial foundation centers upon developing the characteristics of the leader—cognitively, socially, and organizationally—while resting upon the importance of integrity, trustworthiness, self-discipline, and self-confidence to achieve the stated organizational strategy. Further, given that conflict can and will occur, the leader embraces each of the characteristics inherent with these foundations toward achieving success.

References DuBrin, A. J. (2019). Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.

https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780357382837 Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399.

https://doi.org/10.1037/h0022100